Favorite thing to do outside of school: I enjoy creative writing, listening to music, singing, going to the gym and my church. I also enjoy participating in community theater and hanging out with my sister (Anastasia).

Favorite high school memory: My favorite high school memory was when I was selected to be a delegate of Buckeye Girls State by the American Legion Auxiliary Post No. 204. I ran for governor and this experience allowed me to make friends and create memories that may not have occurred if I hadn't run for that position. Although I wasn’t elected governor, I was reminded to remain true to who I am, and I know the skills I learned from running will allow me to work towards being a leader in the future.

Most people will be surprised to know that: I am a complete nature geek! I love to study exotic animal species and learn about their behaviors and the way they impact the environment. This led me to adopt a pygmy elephant from the World Wildlife Fund (WWF).

What do you hope to do as a career: Although I’m not sure where my life will take me in terms of my career, I know that I want to do something that I love and have a passion to do. I know Christ will guide me to a position where I am able to make an impact on people and hopefully, the world.

What is the biggest problem facing teens today: While both teens and adults live in a technology-driven world, sometimes we as teens isolate ourselves and in doing so, we fail to build personal, authentic relationships. In addition, we look for the approval in others through “likes” on Instagram or how many “streaks” we have on Snapchat. This type of “approval” does not result in long-term personal growth.